Firing mechanism for guns.



J. F. MEIGS, P. G. HUGHES & R. P. STOUT.

FIRING MECHANISM FOR GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29,1903.

1,007,720. Patented Nov. 7, 1911.

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J. P. MEIGS, F. G. HUGH-3S Patented Nov. 7, 1911.

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APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 1903.

1,007,720, Patented Nov. 7, 1911.

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J. P. MEIGS, F. G. HUGHES & R. P. STOUT.

FIRING MECHANISM FOR GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 1903.

l,OO7,720, Patented Nov. 7, 1911.

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JOHN F. MEIGS, OF SOUTH BETHLEHEM, AND FREDERICK G. HUGHES AND ROBERT P.STOUT, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRING MECHANISM FOR GUNS.

T 0 all whom it m ay concern Be it known that we, JOHN F. Mmss, residingat South Bethlehem, and FREDERICK G. HUGHES and ROBERT P. STOUT,residing at Bethlehem, county of Northampton, and State of Pennsylvania,citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Firing Mechanism for Guns, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention relates to the firing mechanism of guns and consists inthe combination with the rotatable breech block of a movable support andfiring pin supported thereby, and means whereby the parts are so shiftedon turning the breech block that the point of the firing pin is broughtto firing position only as the breech block is closed, as fully setforth hereinafter and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the breech of a gun,illustrating our improvements; Fig. 2 is a transverse section lookingtoward the rear; Figs. 3 and 5 are longitudinal sections showingdifferent means of supporting the firing pin movably in the breechblock; and Figs. 4 and 6 are transverse sections, respectively, of Figs.3 and 5, and looking toward the rear.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the breech A of the gun hasmutilated screw threads adapted to those of the breech block C supportedto rotate in the carrier B by means of any suitable appliances (notshown,) the breech block being axially concentric with the axis of thegun.

The pin D slides in a support E which extends into an opening or socket00 in the breech block, the said socket flaring toward each end from itsmost contracted portion y, which serves as a fulcrum upon which thesupport E may oscillate to thereby carry the pin D from a positionaxially concentric with the breech block to a position with its axiscrossing that of the breech block as indicated by the lines ww, so thatthe firing point 6 in one position is eccentric to the axis of thebreech block and gun, and in the other is concentric therewith and withthe primer of the cartridge, and in a position to explode the latter.This explosion is effected by drawing back the firing pin D by usualmeans (not shown) and then releasing it so that it will be carriedforward by the energy Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 29, 1903.

Patented Nov. '7, 1911.

Serial No. 154,833.

of a spring 0 which is confined between a shoulder on the firing pin anda shoulder on the support so as to be compressed when the firing pin iscarried back. To prevent the support from being thrust back by the forceof the explosion, it is provided with a head 6 which bears upon ashoulder f of the breech block, and to permit the parts to be properlyassembled, the rear end of the holder is recessed and threaded toreceive a flange nut or follower g. In order to prevent any possibilityof premature firing the support must be so controlled that the firingpoint I) shall coincide with the primer only' as the breech block Ccompletes its movement in closing the breech, and we therefore providemeans whereby the support E is maintained axially out of line with thebreech block and is brought into line with the pin Z) opposite theprimer only as the movement of the breech block C is completed. \Vhilediiferent means may be employed for this purpose, we illustrate in Figs.1 and 2 a construction which is effective, where the holder E isrectangular in cross section and fits a rectangular socket w, and isprovided with a lug i at the rear end, which engages a cam-like face 15of an opening it in a plate 7' fastened to or forming part of thecarrier. The shape of the opening it is such that as the breech block isturned the edge t of the opening bearing upon the edge of the lug i willshift the support E gradually from one position to the other, but willonly bring it to a position with the firing point 6 concentric with theprimer when the breech block C is in its fully closed position.

In the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the firing pin D fits alongitudinal socket in a cylindrical support or holder F turning in alongitudinal opening in the breech block C. This opening, however, iseccentric to the axis of the block so that as the holder is turned theaxis of the firing pin D is carried to and from the axis of the block Cand this is automatically efiected by forming on the rear end of thesupport F a rack 70 which engages a rack m upon the plate j, the partsbeing so positioned that the support F will be turned to carry the pin Dto a position with its axis concentric with the breech block only as thelatter is closed.

In the construction shown in Figs. 5 and (3, the pin D is carried by asupport G which is always parallel to the axis of the breech block butslides laterally in a recess or socket 'v to carry the firing pin to andfrom the axis of the breech block. In this case, the sliding movement ofthe support G is eflected by means of cams p g within the breech of thegun, and cams s t of the plate j which cams act upon the ends of across-piece 7' at the forward end and forming part of the support and onthe rear end of the support in such manner that as the breech block isturned, the support is brought to a position with the axis of the firingpin coinciding with that of the breech block only as the closing of thelatter is completed.

It will be seen that in all of the above constructions the firing pinhas a support movable in the block but that it is maintained out offiring position by the automatic shifting of said support eXcept at theinstant when the breech block is closed.

lVithout limiting ourselves to the precise construction shown, we claimas our invention:

1. In a breech loading gun, the combination with the breech block, of afiring pin having a support movable in said breech block, the firing pinbeing concentric with the bore of the gun when the breech block is infiring position, and means for moving said support to shift the firingpin to an eccentric position with respect to the bore of the gun whenthe breech block is turned from firing position,

2. In a breech loading gun having a concentrically arranged rotatablebreech-block, a firing pin working in said block and movable thereinlaterally from concentric to eccentric position with relation to thebore of the gun.

3. In a breech loading gun having a concentrically arranged rotatablebreech-block a firing pin having its point movable lat-erally to andfrom firing position, and means for automatically effecting the saidmovement of the firing pin point.

4. In a breech loading gun having a concentrically arranged rotatablebreech block, a firing pin having its point movable laterally to andfrom firing position and means actuated by the rotation of the block forautomatically effecting the said movement of the firing pin point.

5. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with its breech-block, of adetonating element, and means movable in said block for automaticallyshifting said element laterally therein.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of three subscribing witnesses.

JOHN F. MEIGS. FREDERICK G. HUGHES. R. P. STOUT. Witnesses:

J. E. MATHEWS, EDWIN A. MILLER EARL Gr. RUsH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

